Refuse disposal arrangement

ABSTRACT

A refuse disposal arrangement includes a holder which is mountable on an upright support and includes a pair of arms each having a first end portion and a second end portion. Mounting means mounts the second end portions of these arms for turning movement in such a manner that the arms can turn together and with reference to one another about an upright axis common to them both. A plurality of disposable refuse bags are provided which are each releasably connectable with the holder and which each have an upper open end encircled by a tubular cuff provided with at least one aperture into which the first end portions of the arms can be inserted in mutually opposite circumferential directions of the respective bag. Thus, when the arms are turned away from one another the bag is opened whereas, when they are turned so that they are closely adjacent one another, the bag is closed.

r all llitcd totes atem H 1 Dietz 1 Feb. d, 1972 [54] REFUSE DISPOSAL ARRANGEMENT 1 Primary Examiner-Chancellor E. Harris [72] Inventor: fi zg ggz AP 0 61300 Attorney-Michael S. Striker [22] Filed: Mar. 10, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 18,195 A refuse disposal arrangement includes a holder which is mountable on an upright support and includes a pair of arms each having a first end portion and a second end portion. Mounting means mounts the second end portions of these I arms for turning movement in Such a manner that the arms [58] Fleld of Search ..248/99, 95, 100, 101, 2288550118845; can mm together and with reference to one another about an upright axis common to them both. A plurality of disposable refuse bags are provided which are each releasably connecta- [56] Reieremes OM ble with the holder and which each have an upper open and UNITED STATES PATENTS encircled by a tubular cuff provided with at least one aperture into which the first end portions of the arms can be inserted in 239,783 4/1881 Hockensmlth .248/101 mutually opposite ir mf enti l directions f the respective 400,191 3/1889 Clark "248/99 x bag. Thus, when the arms are turned away from one another 628,692 7/1899 CampbelL. ..285/ 185 X the bag is opened whereas, when they are mmed so that they l 2 35 are closely adjacent one another, the bag is closed. razier... 3,313,504 4/1967 Stolze ..243/99 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEBFEH- a 1912 INVENTOR Tam/ups: 0/51";

la WW //A'A..

ATTORNEY REFUSE DISPOSAL ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to disposal arrangements and more particularly to an arrangement which is intended to eliminate the need for waste or garbage cans of a permanent type and to permit the collection of refuse in disposable bags.

There are of course many reasons why it is desirable to eliminate insofar as possible the need for waste or garbage cans. They are unsightly, frequently difficult to handle both by the householder and the refuse collector, they are relatively expensive and in many instances there is simply inadequate room available for the necessary number of garbage cans. One attempt to replace such cans has become known and involves the use of disposable plastic bags. These are mounted within a framework placed, for instance, at curbside and holding the bags open and in upright position. Once a bag is filled its upper open end is tied in suitable manner, the framework is set up adjacent to it and a new bag is inserted into the framework. This has been found to be quite successful in the limited tests which have been given to the system. The bags can be readily handled by refuse collectors, are inexpensive and create no noise when they are collected, a major source of annoyance with regular permanent garbage cans, particularly in municipal areas where collection often takes place at night and where the noise involved in the handling of regular garbage cans is therefore particularly objectionable.

However, the use of regular frameworks of the type mentioned above is often either impractical or even impossible. Thus, there is frequently inadequate space available for such frameworks, and if the refuse is being collected in a household or in generally an enclosed space, such as an office, there may often not be adequate floor space available for such a framework, aside from the fact that the presence of such a framework makes the floor-cleaning operations more difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a refuse disposal arrangement which utilizes in place of garbage cans and similar permanent receptacles inexpensive disposable bags, but which does not require a ground-supported framework for holding these bags in the necessary and desired position.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such an arrangement which does not require that the refuse bags come into contact at all with the ground, unless this should be specifically desired by the user.

Still an additional object of the invention is to provide such an arrangement which is not only inexpensive in its operation because of the use of inexpensive disposable refuse bags, but which is also inexpensive in the initial investment required for its purchase.

In pursuance of the above objects and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of my invention resides in a refuse disposal arrangement which, briefly stated, comprises a holder mountable on an upright support and including a pair of arms having a first end portion and a second end portion. Mounting means mounts the second end portion for turning movement of the arms about an upright axis common to them both. A plurality of disposable refuse bags are provided and are each releasably connectable with the holder and each have an upper open end encircled by a tubular cuff provided with at least one aperture for insertion of the first end portions of the aforementioned arms in mutually opposite circumferential directions of the respective bag. Turning movement of the arms about the aforementioned upright axes in direction away from one another results in opening of the upper end of the respectively connected bag and turning movement of the arms towards one another results in closing of the upper end of the respectively connected bag.

5 jects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a holder of my novel arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the holder of FIG. 1 in assembled condition;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a disposable refuse bag for use with the holder in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the arrangement of FIGS. 1-3 in a position where the bag of FIG. 3 is connected with the holder of FIGS. 1 and 2 and is in opened condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly FIGS. I and 2 thereof, it will be seen that I have illustrated therein a holder constituting one component of my novel refuse disposal arrangement, and with which the disposable refuse bags illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 are to be used. Reference numeral I identifies a first arm having an end portion In and another end portion lb which extends at a right angle to the end portion Ia. Reference numeral 2 identifies a second arm similar to the first arm in configuration and having an end portion 2a and a second end portion 2b which respectively corresponds to the end portions Ia and 1b of the arm I. The arm 1 is of tubular stock, preferably metallic stock, and has an inner diameter which can be selected at will and which may, for instance, be three-quarters of an inch. Of course, the outer diameter could be three-quarters inch and the inner diameter could be correspondingly smaller. As mentioned, it can be selected freely. The arm 2 is similar to thearm 1 except that the inner diameter of the arm 2 is so selected that it can freely tumably accommodate the end portion lb of the arm I. The end portion 2b of the arm 2 is provided at the juncture of the end portions 2a and 2b with an aperture 3 which is coaxial with the interior of the end portion 2b and through which the end portion lb is inserted into the end portion 2b, so that the arm 1 is joumaled in the arm 2 for turning movement about an axis which is the axis of the end portion 2!: of the arm 2. The overall length of the arm 1 may, to state an example, be on the order of 25 inches, and the overall length of the arm 2 may also be on the order of 25 inches. The arms 1 and 2 should be bent in such a manner that, when the end portion lb is received tumably in the end portion 2b, there should be approximately 1/25-inch spacing between the end portions Ia and 2b when the arms 1 and 2 are turned in such a manner that their end portions la and 2a are directly superposed, as illustrated'in FIG. 2.

To prevent damage to any plastic bags which are to be secured to the end portions Ia and 2a, and also to prevent possible injury to a user, end caps or plugs may be provided for the free ends of the end portions 1a and 2a. These are identified with reference numeral 4 and are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as plugs consisting, for instance, of synthetic plastic material, but also capable of being produced from other materials. Of course, instead of plugs they could also be in form of caps, the construction of such caps being well known in the art.

There is further provided a tubular journal member 6, also advantageously of metallic stock and having an inner diameter so selected as to freely tumably accommodate the end portion 2b of the arm 2. Upwardly of the lower end the journal member 6 is provided with a pin extending thereacross. Thus, the end portions 1b and 2b rest on the pin 7, and the lower free ends of the end portions 1b and 2b are respectively provided with cutouts 5 constituting detent means. These cutouts 5 will in one position of the respective arms 1 and 2 settle over the pin 7, thus maintaining the arms I and 2 in a desired predetermined position with reference to one another. For instance, the cutouts 5 may be so arranged that they will maintain the arms I and 2 in the relative position shown in FIG. 2. Of

course, they could also be arranged differently and tend to retain the arms in a different relative position, for instance that shown in FIG. 4. In any case, a slight pressure against the arms 1 and/or 2 in a sense urging them to turn about the aforementioned upright axis will suffice to overcome the resistance to turning movement offered by the engagement of the pin 7 in the cutouts 5, and to permit desired turning of the arms 1 and 2. Clearly, they can be turned together as well as with with reference to one another.

The journal member 6 is secured, preferably by welding, to a mounting plate 8, of metallic or other suitable material and provided with a plurality of openings 9 by means of which the plate 8 can be secured-through insertion of screws, nails or similar fastening means through the openings 9-to an upright support surface, such as the surface of a wall or the like. The holder in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be secured at such a height that the disposable refuse bags are completely off the ground, thus making it possible to maintain normal floor cleaning beneath them without interference. However, if the bags are to receive particularly heavy contents it is also possible to mount the holder at such a height that the lower ends of the bags will rest on the ground.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show one of the disposable refuse bags which are to be used with the holder of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 shows such bag 10 in rather diagrammatic form, and it will be seen that its upper open end is encircled by a circumferentially exten;ing cuff 11 which may be produced by folding the upper marginal portion bounding the open end of the bag 10 either inwardly or outwardly and securing it in suitable manner, for instance by heat welding. At least one vertical side of the bag 10 is provided with an inwardly extending gusset l3, illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 3. In other words, this is a fold taken in the sidewall and folded into the interior of the bag 10, a structural expedient which is well known in the bagmaking art. At one location-if only one gusset 13 is provided in the location will be on the side opposite the gusset I3the cuff 11 is provided with at least one aperture or incision, identified with reference numeral 12 and shown in broken lines in FIG. 3. Such bags may be made of various suitable synthetic plastic materials. such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene or the like. It is preferred that they be made opaque rather than transparent so as to conceal the contents, namely the refuse. Of course. they may be made of any desirable color and provided with imprints, for instance with decorative matter, with patterns, or even with the word refuse or other suitable legends identifying their use. Color-cuing may be provided to identify readily for the user where the aperture 12 is located, for instance by providing at each side of the aperture-or outlining the rim thereof-a color band or the like. Because the bags are to be set out for refuse collection when they are filled-in which case their upper open ends are tied with a suitable wire or other tie known in the field-it is possible that they could attract the attention of animals intending to scavenge in the refuse for edibles. To avoid this, suitable trace quantities of chemicals may be incorporated in the material of the bags which prevent the animals from so doing, for instance a sulfur compound or the like in quantities which are not detectable to human beings but will prevent animals from going near the bags. Of course, the bags may have any desired configuration and size. I have found that a circumference of approximately 45 inches provide a bag capable of holding a very sizable quantity of refuse.

FIG. 4, finally, shows the holder of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the bag 10 of FIG. 3 placed onto it. The bag 10 is identified in broken lines for purposes of clarity and it will be seen that the arms I and 2 moving away from one another-they are shown in nearly open position in FIG. 4-results in the opening of the gusset 13, thus providing an opening of the bag which is of generally triangular outline. Conversely, when the arms 1 and 2 are moved towards one another until their end portions la and 2a are located directly above one another as shown in FIG. 2, the upper open end of the bag 10 will be closed with the portions of the bag encircling the end portions Ia and 2a being wedged or cinched against one another so as to prevent or at least substantially reduce the escape of odors from the bag and to prevent the entry of insects into the latter.

Once the bag is filled to the desired extent, it is slipped off the arms I and 2, its upper open end is tied and the bag is placed at a storage location, for instance curbside for collection by the refuse collector, and a new bag 10 is connected with the holder.

While herein I have spoken of a refuse disposal arrangement, both in the preceding portions of the specification and the claims, I wish it to be clearly understood that the term refuse as employed herein is to have the widest possible interpretation in accordance with my expressed intent. Specifically, the term refuse is intended not only to refer to garbage, but also to other items which it may be desired to collect, it being evident, for instance, that the arrangement according to the present invention could also be used for collecting soiled laundry in the bags 10. Of course, in this case the laundry would not be disposed of when the bags 10 are filled, but instead would be ultimately taken away in the bags 10 for washing, dry cleaning or whatever.

It will be seen that my arrangement provides a means of disposing of refuse which requires little or no floorspace, which requires very small expenditures for the original acquisition, and whose holder can, if and when not in use, he actually turned in such a manner that the arms 1 and 2 will be completely against the supporting surface or wall on which the holder is mounted and thus be entirely out of the way.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a refuse disposal arrangement, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can be applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be projected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A disposal arrangement, particularly for refuse and similar matter, comprising a holder mountable on an upright support and including a pair of arms each having a first end portion and a second end portion; mounting means mounting said second end portions for turning movement of said anns about an upright axis common to them both and with said first end portions of said arms located at different levels and being movable by such turning movement to and from a superposed position; and at least one disposable bag releasably connectable with said holder and having an upper open end encircled by a tubular cuff provided with at least one apertured for insertion of said first end portions in mutually opposite circumferential directions of the bag, turning of said arms about said upright axis in direction away from one another resulting in opening of the upper end of the connected bag and turning of said arms towards one another resulting in movement of said first end portions to said superposed position and consequent closing of said upper end of the connected bag.

2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, said bag consisting at least predominantly of synthetic plastic material.

3. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, said bag having a first side provided with said aperture and facing said second end portions when the bag is connected with said holder, and a second side facing away from said first side; and wherein at least said second side is provided with a gusset directed inwardly of the bag and elongated downwardly from said upper side thereof.

4. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, said arms being tubular and said first and second end portions of each arm including at least substantially a right angle with one another.

5. An arrangement as defined in claim 4, said mounting means including a tubular element having an upper open terminal portion into which said second end portions extend in downward direction, and a lower terminal portion.

6. An arrangement as defined in claim 5, said lower terminal portion being open; and further comprising at least one pin traversing the cross section of said lower terminal portion and so positioned that free end faces of said second end portions rest upon said pin.

7. An arrangement as defined in claim 6; further comprising detent means on said free end faces and cooperating with said pin so as to normally tend to maintain said arms in predetermined angular relationship with reference to one another.

8. An arrangement as defined in claim 5, one of said arms having an inner diameter at least slightly larger than the other diameter of the other of said arms, and being provided on said second end portion and at the outer side of said right angle with a cutout and said second end portion of said other arm tumably extending through said cutout into and being coaxial with said second end portion of said one arm.

9. An arrangement as defined in claim 8, both of said second end portion being tumably received in said tubular element.

10. An arrangement as defined in claim 4, each of said first end portions having an open free end; and further comprising end caps closing the respective open free ends. 

1. A disposal arrangement, particularly for refuse and similar matter, comprising a holder mountable on an upright support and including a pair of arms each having a first end portion and a second end portion; mounting means mounting said second end portions for turning movement of said arms about an upright axis common to them both and with said first end portions of said arms located at different levels and being movable by such turning movement to and from a superposed position; and at least one disposable bag releasably connectable with said holder and having an upper open end encircled by a tubular cuff provided with at least one aperture for insertion of said first end portions in mutually opposite circumferential directions of the bag, turning of said arms about said upright axis in direction away from one another resulting in opening of the upper end of the connected bag and turning of said arms towards one another resulting in movement of said first end portions to said superposed position and consequent closing of said upper end of the connected bag.
 2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, said bag consisting at least predominantly of synthetic plastic material.
 3. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, said bag having a first side provided with said aperture and facing said second end portions when the bag is connected with said holder, and a second side facing away from said first side; and wherein at least said second side is provided with a gusset directed inwardly of the bag and elongated downwardly from said upper side thereof.
 4. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, said arms being tubular and said first and second end portions of each arm including at least substantially a right angle with one another.
 5. An arrangement as defined in claim 4, said mounting means including a tubular element having an upper open terminal portion into which said second end portions extend in downward direction, and a lower terminal portion.
 6. An arrangement as defined in claim 5, said lower terminal portion being open; and further comprising at least one pin traversing the cross section of said lower terminal portion and so positioned that free end faces of said second end portions rest upon said pin.
 7. An arrangement as defined in claim 6; further comprising detent means on said free end faces and cooperating with said pin so as to normally tend to maintain said arms in predetermined angular relationship with reference to one another.
 8. An arrangement as defined in claim 5, one of said arms having an inner diameter at least slightly larger than the other diameter of the other of said arms, and being provided on said second end portion and at the outer side of said right angle with a cutout and said second end portion of said other arm turnably extending through said cutout into and being coaxial with said second end portion of said one arm.
 9. An arrangement as defined in claim 8, both of said second end portions being turnably received in said tubular element.
 10. An arrangement as defined in claim 4, each of said first end portions having an open free end; and further comprising end caps closing the respective open free ends. 